Archive for the ‘News’ Category

The DNA of marijuana has been fully mapped out, thanks to a small team of researchers. The efforts could potentially lead to groundbreaking cancer research, and extremely high-THC concentration marijuana plants. Not a whole lot of scientific breakthroughs are made in the field of cannabis, so this is exciting. Read more at the 420petition.com blog.

And while you’re there, check out their overview of the Mexican Cartel situation. What’s going on in Mexico is really appalling, and we’re more responsible than you might think.

A new survey reports that a majority of Americans support the legalization of marijuana. Angus Reid Public Opinion has found that 55% of Americans support legalization of marijuana. This is higher than both their 2009 and 2010 surveys, in which Americans favored it 53% and 52%, respectively.(more…)

I’m too stoned to do anything but put the link there for you to click on. Maybe this would be different if I had used shrooms more often. You can find some trip reports of my experiences here in our archives.

Morlock was particularly eager to volunteer the truth to his fellow soldiers, evidently unconcerned about how they would react to his having murdered an unarmed Afghan. The same evening he shot Mudin, several members of Bravo Company convened in the privacy of a Stryker vehicle for a nightcap of hashish, a common activity among the unit. Hash supplied by Afghan translators was a major part of the daily lives of many soldiers; they smoked up constantly, getting high in their vehicles, their housing units, even porta-potties.

Apparently the DEA really doesn’t discriminate. I suppose this is a good thing, since blacks outnumber whites 4-1 in American jails, and they are outnumbered 6-1 in the population of the US. But once again, the lack of oversight and general lack of interest in gathering worthwhile evidence tacks on another repetitive mark under “failed police raid on innocent American’s home.” This time, however, the victim of the raid was not an average American. Where most people would have neither the time nor resources to pursue any type of restitution, this UC Hastings professor vows to take his case as far as possible. At one time even being quoted saying he will not stop until “I see [the agents’] houses sold at auction and their kids’ college tuitions taken away from them.”

While it’s fairly unlikely that any repercussions will befall the individual officers involved in this case, it is possible that the infuriated professor, Clark Freshman, will see some sort of monetary compensation. It is historically a fruitless venture to take on any wing of the American government, especially the judicial sect. And for obvious reasons. But then again, this is not the ordinary citizen, and he probably has some friends in high places. I’ll be interested to see how this one turns out.

According to a newly presented study conducted by Harvard researchers, people who began smoking marijuana before the age of 16 score significantly lower on a standard test of intelligence than those who began smoking after 16. What does this study mean? Maybe the earlier onset smokers were more likely to be stoned while they were evaluated. In any case, check out the data yourself here at WebMD.

Did you smoke in your younger days? Let us know whether you think it made you dumber by commenting below.

It turns out that not every marijuana-related ballot initiative has to face the disgrace of being voted down this electoral season. As of this Friday Arizona approved a measure which allows medical access to marijuana. For more information on this one I’ll defer to the journalists over at the Examiner: With passage of Prop 203, Arizona becomes 15th medical marijuana state

We would love for you to comment on this development, especially if you live in Arizona.

Everything but the period in the above sentence links to an LA Times article covering the response by various legalization bodies to Prop. 19’s defeat. A heartening read for the disappointed armchair cannabis legalization activist in all of us. Check it out and please leave feedback on this article or the site in general by commenting below!

As anyone with experience will know, Four Loko seems unlike almost any alcohol drink. And as anyone who has looked at the ingredients will know, it is the alcoholic equivalent to a speedball (a bit hyperbolic, of course). Well, thanks to this caffeinated (and usually guarinated and taurinated) malt beverage, I am reminded just how forgetful people are about prohibition.

If you click this link here, you will learn about Michigan’s new law banning Four Loko (and, as I understand it, all alcoholic caffeinated malt beverages) from sale in the state. It should be noted that a probable major contributing factor here is this incident, in which nine college freshman were hospitalized after drinking Four Loko. Because, you know, college freshman never get hospitalized for any other alcoholic beverage.

Expect other municipalities, states and hopefully not the Federal Government (don’t hold your breath) to soon follow suit.

Well, what can I say America? You are, once again, a complete disappointment. I became disillusioned with American politics in general long ago, so to be honest it wasn’t too surprising or upsetting to find that one of the most important pieces of drug legislation was shot down by voters today. Even though I privately assumed this would happen months ago, when I first learned about Prop 19, the possible failure was an unspeakable opinion for most marijuana reform advocates.